The Transience of Identity and the Unpredictability of Surveillance in City of Glass
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document in English
literature
school essay
published 11/12/2007
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Summary
Through the use of the character Daniel Quinn, author Paul Auster is arguing against the idea that identity is static and also against the idea that surveillance is perfect. This paper explores the complex life of Quinn by taking a good look at every character that he tries to become. It starts out by speaking about the fake author name that Quinn created to write under, William Wilson. Then it moves to speak about the character of Max Work who Quinn idolizes. Work is everything that Quinn wishes he was and from living through the eyes of Work for so long, Quinn knows how to act like a detective when the time comes for him to impersonate Paul Auster. The final character that Quinn lives through is the before mentioned Auster. He takes on a case pretending he is this man and the experiences he has change his emotional and mental identity very drastically by the end of the novel.
The next section of this paper focuses on how surveillance is never 100% effective. Author Auster illustrates that this is his viewpoint by having Quinn do some surveying of his own. Quinn has problems from the beginning of his detective work when he is trying to follow the elder Peter Stillman around the city. He then goes on a long stakeout where Quinn has the trouble that any person on stakeout would have – not being able to see everything at every second. These are the two most noteworthy instances that are referenced in this paper and point out how surveillance can never be counted on to work.
The next section of this paper focuses on how surveillance is never 100% effective. Author Auster illustrates that this is his viewpoint by having Quinn do some surveying of his own. Quinn has problems from the beginning of his detective work when he is trying to follow the elder Peter Stillman around the city. He then goes on a long stakeout where Quinn has the trouble that any person on stakeout would have – not being able to see everything at every second. These are the two most noteworthy instances that are referenced in this paper and point out how surveillance can never be counted on to work.
Table of Contents
- Abstract.
- Illustration of Auster's argument that the concept of 'identity' is never stable.
- The idea that identity can change over time.
- Proving that Quinn's identity was drastically changed after the trauma.
- The next new identity that Quinn partly becomes.
- Quinn takes on another different character's personality.
- The events that can change a person's emotional and psychological identity.
- Auster's addition of purpose to Quinn's life.
- Another problem with the way the Quinn has to survey Stillman.
- Conclusion.
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